The Presidential Events: March 2021

The Senate passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. The House, which had already passed its own version, certified the modified Senate bill. Biden signed the bill into law. The bill authorized $1,400 checks for every individual earning less than $75,000 annually, a $300 weekly increase to unemployment, funding to reopen schools, subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, and support for local governments, along with support to increase vaccine production. It did not include a $15 minimum wage, and the checks were sent to fewer people than the $1,200 checks from last summer or the $600 checks authorized in December of 2020. Some claimed that this bill is the second war on poverty. It also includes a cash expenditure, sent to every family of $250 monthly, for every child until age 17. A center-left think tank, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities claimed the bill may cut child poverty by 40%. This may be a temporary, one time effect, as the stipend for children is a one year program that would have to be extended by Congress. Even though not a single Republican member of the House or Senate voted for the relief (none!), some, like Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, tried to take credit. A poll conducted by Data for Progress reported that 31% of Republican voters thought Republican Congresswomen and men voted for the bill.

With millions under the pressure of a pandemic, the Department of Education paused student loan collections for at least one million borrowers in default. To help those who lost their health insurance when they lost their job, Biden extended enrollment for the ACA. The USDA increased SNAP benefits by fifteen percent.

Taxes, Spending, and Infrastructure:

In control of Congress and the Presidency, Democrats prepared to roll back tax relief of the wealthy to pay for expanded support of relief. First, Democrats considered an increase of the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. It was 35% before the Republicans, under Trump, passed their tax cuts (though experts would argue that the effective corporate tax rate was already well below 20% by 2010. Biden also considered raising taxes on anyone making more than $400,000. Biden proposed a two trillion dollar infrastructure plan that would update America's crumbling roads and bridges, while also reducing the transportation sector's use of fossil fuels. The corporate tax increase was included in the bill. The White House supported a wind farm off New Jersey. It would generate jobs for 44,000 workers, along with 33,000 others in support. Biden also considered another one to two trillion of spending on education and the environment.

Reconciliation, the Filibuster, and Manchin:

Most of the bills have to involve the economy, since Democrats Manchin and Sinema refused to eliminate the filibuster. Only bills affecting the economy can be passed through the 50 vote reconciliation process, avoiding the sixty vote threshold required for other laws. Biden proposed filibuster reform, but Manchin, after briefly considering it, shot it down. The all essential task of preventing catastrophic global warming rests on Manchin's vote, and whether Biden can convince him to change it. Manchin was the key voice which already carved the $15 minimum wage out of the coronavirus relief bill.

Cuomo:

Biden said he wouldn't comment on New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, until the ongoing investigation finished. Two days later, he reiterated this idea, but added, that if the allegations were true, Cuomo should resign.

Native Rights and the Environment:

The White House halted the transfer of sacred Native American land in Arizona to the Resolution Copper mining company. Twenty-one states sued Biden to force him to restart construction of the Keystone pipeline.

Corruption:

A number of aides connected to Biden became lobbyists during the month of March. Some of Biden's officials are (or were) lobbyists for, or hold significant investments in vaccine producers. Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J consider raising prices of their vaccines. Kamala Harris also lost an aide to lobby for Bracewell, an international law firm.

Also and Other:

Chris Wray, the FBI director, condemned 1/6 as domestic terrorism.

Biden condemned anti-Asian racism. After a shooting in Colorado, and the murder of six Asian women in Atlanta, Biden urged Congress to pass gun reform. As long as Manchin refuses to eliminate the filibuster, a reduction in firearms won't happen.

Democrats didn't repeal a number of Trump regulations.

After Biden's election, Republican controlled states passed legislation to restrict voting. Joe Biden called a law in Georgia, “un-American” and “Jim Crow in the 21^st century.” When Major League Baseball considered moving the All-Star game out of Atlanta in response, Biden supported the idea.

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